Field Hockey | 11/1/2022 9:54:28 AM
Hartwick College, St. John Fisher University, Houghton University, Utica University, Washington & Jefferson College and Keuka College will vie for the 2022 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship, which starts on Wednesday, Nov. 2 and wraps up Sunday, Nov. 6, with all games played at the higher seed.
No. 3 seed Houghton will host No. 6 Keuka and No. 4 seed Utica will host No. 5 seed Washington & Jefferson in opening round games on Wednesday. The winner of Utica vs. Washington & Jefferson will travel to face top-seed Hartwick on Friday, Nov. 4, while No. 2 seed St. John Fisher is set to host the winner of Houghton and Keuka, also on Friday. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2022 Empire 8 Championship on Sunday at the highest remaining seed.
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship Tournament, which begins on Nov. 9.
Participating Teams
No. 1 – Hartwick College (9-0 E8, 10-6 Overall)
No. 2 – St. John Fisher University (7-2 E8, 8-10 Overall)
No. 3 – Houghton University (7-2 E8, 12-5 Overall)
No. 4 – Utica University (5-3 E8, 6-10 Overall)
No. 5 – Washington & Jefferson College (5-4 E8, 6-9 Overall)
No. 6 – Keuka College (4-5 E8, 6-12 Overall)
Top-seed seed Hartwick enters the E8 Tournament with a 10-6 overall mark and finished 9-0 in league play during the season, out-scoring its E8 opponents, 56-8. The Hawks have out-scored opponents, 48-21 this season and boast six different players with at least 18 points. Senior Sydney Gagnon leads the team in scoring and is among the Empire 8 leaders with 16 goals and 36 points, while Lex Matarazzo is right behind with 30 points on 12 goals and six assists and Leah Tolley has 28 points on nine goals and 10 assists. Julie Ruzzi has a team-high 14 assists. Goalkeeper Madison Maddocks played in all 16 games this season. She has a sparkling 1.04 goals against average in league play.
No. 2 seed St. John Fisher enters the tournament having won its last four league games. The Cardinals, who are the two-time defending E8 Champions, are looking for their fourth league title. Emma Cooper leads St. John Fisher in scoring with 27 points on 10 goals and seven assists. Molly Fisher has a team-best 12 goals, while Gianna Palma has 22 points on seven goals and eight assists. In net, Sophia Trozzi has made 99 saves and has eight victories in 2022.
Houghton has enjoyed its finest season in Empire 8 play, having garnered a 12-5 overall record and 7-2 E8 mark to garner the third seed. The Highlanders have out-scored their opponents, 62-35 this season. Bekah Davie leads the Empire 8 with 17 goals and is second with 37 points. Jace Hunzinger, the 2021 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year leads the league and is among the national leaders with 17 assists. She also has six goals for 29 points. Peyton Bentley has 10 goals and 26 points, while Deborah Cross has added 21 points. Goalkeeper Madison Tadusz has played in all 17 games and has a 2.07 goals against average, 85 saves and four shutouts.
Fourth-seeded Utica finished 6-3 overall in league play. The Pioneers have two players near the top of the league leaderboard in scoring in Alyssa Pisano and Mackenzie Mix. Pisano leads the Pioneers in scoring with 12 goals and 27 points, while Mix, who is also an Empire 8 Champion sprinter in track and field is right behind with 11 goals and 26 points. Goalkeeper Lyla Cushman has played in all 16 games this season and has 60 saves and four shutouts.
Washington & Jefferson is looking to earn its fourth E8 Field Hockey Championship this week. The Presidents come in with a 5-4 mark in league play to garner the fifth seed. Hailey Wachowiak leads all Empire 8 Players in scoring with 39 points on 16 goals and seven assists. Lily Giering has added nine goals and a team-high eight assists, while Camryn Cresci has eight goals. Goalkeeper Anastasia Godat has played in all 15 games and has 90 saves.
Keuka earned its first Empire 8 Tournament berth in dramatic fashion, as Anna Dewey scored in overtime in the regular season finale to lift the Wolves over Nazareth College by a score of 4-3 on Oct. 29. The winner advanced to the E8 Tournament. Mikaela Mills leads the Wolves in scoring with 23 points on five goals and 13 assists, while Tori Nelson is right behind with eight goals and 22 points and Erin Patterson has a team-high 10 goals. Goalkeeper Jordan Nichols has made 153 saves in 18 games and has a .722 save percentage to go along with three shutouts.
Houghton and Keuka met on Sept. 24, with the Highlanders earning a 3-2 overtime win on a goal by Cedar Smith. Utica defeated Washington & Jefferson by a score of 4-2 on the same day behind a hat-trick from Pisano.
Utica is looking for its fifth Empire 8 Championship, while Hartwick is attempting to win its fifth title and second in the last fourth seasons. St. John Fisher is looking for its third straight crown and fourth since 2016, while Washington & Jefferson is a three-time league champion. Houghton and Keuka are attempting to win its first league crown.
2022 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Schedule
Wednesday, November 2 – First Round - at Higher Seed
No. 5 Washington & Jefferson at No. 4. Utica – 4 p.m.
No. 6 Keuka at No. 3 Houghton – 7 p.m.
Friday, November 4 - Semifinals - at Higher Seed
Winner of Utica vs. Washington & Jefferson at No. 1. Hartwick – TBA
Winner of Houghton vs. Keuka at No. 2 St. John Fisher – 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 6 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2 at Highest Remaining Seed - TBA
Admission
$6.00 - Adults
$4.00 - Students and seniors with ID
Free - Children under 12
This weekend's championship schedule is below. For the most up to date information on this year's championship, visit
www.empire8.com or follow the Empire 8 Conference on Twitter and Instagram (@Empire8).
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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